Gs430 Mileage And Repairs

[GSUSA]

Hello All,

I thought I should share list of repairs done on my 2001 GS430 at various mileages, so other owner can expect similar repairs when they reach those miles.

I bought the car at 132000 mile and took it to the Lexus dealership for inspection. Their suggested repairs were:

-Strut Rod

-Lower and Upper Control Arms

-Ball Joints

-Rear differential seal

-Left front window motor

-Power Door Locks

Three door power locks

Ofcourse I prioritized the repairs and got some of them done.

At 133000 miles following repairs were done

Ball Joint

Replace Spark Plugs

Clean MAF

120K Service.

At 140000 miles following repairs were done

Replace Timing Belt and Water pump

Replace Radiator

Change transmission fluid

At 155000 miles following repairs were done

Replace Alternator

Replace front both upper control arms

Still pending repairs are:

Brake light is on

Engine light on because of the hole in the Y exhaust pipe

Looking at the car purchase price and repairs cost that question always pops out - if it was worth it.

But nothing beats wonderful feeling of driving powerful V8, sporty four door GS430. I think it is worth it. Almost all the repairs are expected at those miles.

Please feel free to share similar information.

Thanks

[1990LS400]

One "problem" with buying a Lexus at the kind of mileage yours had when you bought it is that one misses the years of mostly touble free ownership one gets with buying a new or slightly used one. Add to that ... many owners let problems pile up and suspend normal servicing during their final years of ownership.

For example, spark plug replacement is only every 120,000 miles on your GS430 - you would not have had just this one expense if the previous owner had followered the maintenance schedule or, more to the point, if you had bought a car with documentation that all scheduled maintenance was up to date. I assume the radiator was replaced due to corrosion. If so, that is probably another indication that the previous owner didn't take good care of the car and have the coolant changed at the recommended intervals.

IMO, the gen 2 GS (98-05) has held up stylistically better than any other Lexus and I don't think the exterior design of the gen 3 or recently introduced gen 4 GS holds a candle to the gen 2.

My 2000 LS400 is nearing 145,000 miles. It has never missed a service and no needed repair has ever been deferred. I'll probably be "spending through" front suspension issues like you are having if I keep the car to our goal of 200,000 miles. As I found with my previous 1990 LS400, the annual cost of repairing and performing normal maintenance a V8 Lexus vehicle can easily average over $1,000/year after 140,000 miles but that is a heck of a lot less expensive than buying a new car of the same caliber.

I'm pretty sure that all normally replaceable front suspension parts on my 90 LS were replaced between around 130,000 miles and 183,500 miles when I sold it. I suspect I will be doing the same to get my 00 LS to 200,000 miles.

[pj8708]

To add my two cents, other than the scheduled items Jim talks about above, and even including that, it may be possible to come up with an average expense for your GS, but only YOUR GS. To arrive at a true average yearly or lifetime car ownership maintenance expense, you need to have several GS430's from which to gather data.

Whether a GS, LS, ES, and so on, all will wear differently based on climate used in, fuel used, type of oil used, driver habits, road conditions (pot holes, gravel,etc.), quality of parts used for repairs, skill and knowledge of the technician, Diy'er making repairs, way car is housed or not, city vs. highway driving, etc.. No two cars wear the same regardless of manufacturer.

Perhaps the one thing that can help obviate this pattern is, as Jim said, start with a totally new car and maintain it from there. BUT, all of the variables I mentioned are still going to apply.

As I said, just my 2 cent's.

[GSUSA]

Agree on buying a used car without repair records. However I found out from my dealer that the car was not in any Lexus dealership after 60,000 mile service.

If previous owner were to maintain regular services and repairs, I would not have had to do the 120K service, Spark Plugs, Timing belt and Water pump. I was little surprised on the suspension related services as well as radiator and alternator as would have expected them around 180k to 200K. To be fair car has been living in New England area where it is exposed to snow and salt.

I want to run this car until 250K and hence curious to know what other repairs can I expect before the transmission and the Engine.

Like I said they seem to be regular maintenance except for the Power Door Locks.

I hope that since these repairs were done at Lexus Dealership, I don’t have to worry for another 100K.

@1990LS400

2000 LS 400 have good reputation for their reliability!

@Paul A

I am hoping other owners would input their repair information so we could see a pattern.

[SRK]

I bought my 98 GS in 2004 with 90k kilometers on it, about 56k miles in other words. It had all service records -oil changes and a water pump at 20k kilometers (warranty). That was it. I did the t-belt because of the time ( 7 years ) in 2005, and it needed doing, along with spark plugs and accessory belt, and an air filter. I installed new front pads a year later. In 2007 the starter contacts failed. $30.00 in parts, $400.00 in labour. Middle of 2010 I replaced the battery - Lexus one. In early 2011 I did a full service of engine and trans oil, coolant, and I installed new rear brake pads, rotated the tires, flushed the brake fluid.

So in seven years that's it. About $1700.00 spent at the dealer, the rest I did. Runs like a champ. I'll need new tires soon, but that's all that's on the horizon. It has 140k kilometers on it now, about 88k miles. I may never sell it....because of all the cars I've owned over the last thirty-seven years, it is by far the most reliable, and the best all round vehicle.

[texan_gator]

1998 GS400 - 165000 miles. I bought it at 96000 in Jun 2006. Had to put new front struts, tie rods, starter, alternator (multiple times), a/c compressor (multiple times), drier, timing belt, waterpump - and then the ususal like tires, battery, brake pads/rotors etc. I have had the car for 5.5 years now and have easily put about 7000 USD in repairs into it. Have been very dissappointed by this Lexus reliability wise. I do still like its power and feel and the interior and exterior condition is pretty good for a 1998 so am gonna keep it perhaps till 200K miles or maybe a bit more. My next car will not be Lexus.

[GSUSA]

Hello All,

I am back gain with the updates. Yes I still do have the 2001 GS430. I just cant find a reason to sell it. It runs so well, and it now has nearly 180000 miles on it. Break lights were due to the burnt out bulbs (rear middle one in the rear windshield. And thanks to forum help, I had to cut out a piece of pipe in the Y pipe ($140 at local muffler shop) and that solved expensive repair recommended by the dealer to replace the whole y pipe and the Engine light on situation.

After that I have not spent any money on the car. I may have to replace the front break pads including new rotors. My steering pulsates when I apply the break now and replacement should take care of it. Also the tire shop guy at Costco mentioned that one my wheel is warped and recommends replacement.

Overall it is a trouble free two years! As Guru member suggested in this forum, at this mile I am prepared to buy a new car if some thing were happen, but I would love to keep it running till 300K. I just love the ride and no monthly payment. I do the service at the Lexus dealership.

Thanks a lot again for repair help in this forum in my initial part of ownership

[kevin3344]

My 1999 GS 400 is now 15 years old and has about 206,700 miles. It's easily the most reliable vehicle I have ever owned. Most likely I will never sell it. Most of the repairs are typical for this mileage, other than common maintenance items like oil changes and tires it is trouble-free.

120,000
Timing Belt & Water Pump

160,000
Starter & Alternator

180,000
Ball Joints
Upper and Lower Control Arms

Valve Cover Gaskets